The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-02-17
VETO OF THE DEPENDENT BILL.

VEIN vi LIE AIA1h A4&NDA&sN@ D@A--'
The President has returned the bill to
pension disabled and dependent soldiers
without his signature and with message
Disappearing Of its principle and terms.
The motives which impelled him to this
are probably:
/. His own natural antipathy to pensions
to Union soldiers.
3 The clamor'of the Mugwump and Free
Trade papers of New York, Boston and else
where.
3. The pressure put upon him by Free
Trade delegation which visited Washington
TO lobby against the bill.
His veto message is a document marked
by cunning rather than sound argument
and the reasoning by which he attempts to
Justify his course is based upon appeals TO
prejudice, misstatements of facts and per-
versions Of figures.
Its spirit and matter are similar TO those
of the "perlSy and smart vetoes of pri-
waite pension bills which were trumpeted
through the press last year. They reflect
his training as an attorney in petty cases,
where ability to say "smart," damaging
things of the other side is more relied on
than knowledge Of law, and power to pre-
sent ii clearly and conyincingly.
The first thing that arrests the attention
is the assumption that he has an under
standing of the matter superior to that of
the majority of both Houses Of Congress;
that he is in possession Of facts which
did not come before them for con-
sideration, and that he is capable Of
better judgment upon those that were con-
sidered than all Of the 200 and more Sena-
tors and Representatives who have been
considering the essential features of the bill
for four years, and finally, after repeated
examinations in committee, and exhaustive
debates in open session, recorded their votes
in its favor.
No plea Of hasty and inconsiderate legis-
lation will avail him. Never in the history
Of Congress has there been bill the essen
tial principle of which has received more
attention, in and out of Congress, than this.
The whole body Of surviving soldiers Of the
country have repeatedly, and in the most
formal manner, expressed their desire that
their disabled and dependent comrades be
rescued from the poorhouses and be given
the means Of supporting themselves outside
Of those institutions.
This desire has been presented 10 the
people at large, and been supported by them.
1t has received earnest attention in conven-
tons and in political campaigns. Most il
not all Of the States Of the North and West
have not waited for Congress TO take action
in the matter, but have passed laws
prohibiting sending disabled soldiers
to the almshouse, and compelling their
support either in their own homes OF
in homes provided by the States. At least
four years ago the Pension Committees Of
both Houses Of Congress recognized the JUS
tice Of the Government assuming this duty
at once, and reported bills which embodied
the principle of the vetoed bill. More than
once both Houses have accepted these bills
by decisive majorities.
Against all this Mr.. Cleveland sets mp hi
individual opinion and arrogantly overridel
an act of Congress done with unusual DELHI
Grafton, by men Of the highest integrity ant
patriotism, in response to public demand
of extraordinary earnestness.
The overwhelming assumption by an Elk
ecutive Of conscience, judgment, powers ant
duties belonging TO the Legislative branch o
the Government, bad in every respect as j
always is, becomes a hundredfold more OF
fensiEe when it is employed to deny justice
and refuse deserved assistance TO the broken
down and poverty pinched members of tina
body Of men TO whom the country owes il
very existence.
: Mr.. Cleveland has taken the responsible
ity for the continuance Of world of sorro,
and misery-of poverty and wretchednes
beyond description.